Mange... will it ever go away?

This forum is for dog lovers seeking everyday advice and suggestions on health-related issues. Remember, however, that advice on a public forum simply can't be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say assuredly what is best for your dog.

After four months of going to the vet over and over to try and solve a skin problem that was making Daisy itch and chew of small spots of hair, the geniuses at our vet clinic have finally decided that it is mange. That’s after treating her for pretty much everything else and pumping the poor baby full of every antibiotic on the market. Now I’ve brought her back faithfully for four mange treatments, which she really hates, and she doesn’t object to much. Is it ever going to go away or will I go broke first? Anyone know of a better way to treat mange?

Did they do a skin scraping to diagnose mange? Or is that just the latest guess since nothing else seems to be working? There are two types of mange... Demodex and Sarcoptic. Demodectic mange is easier to find on skin scraping. This mange is generally treated with dips and antibiotics. Sarcoptic mange can be more difficult to find on skin scraping (can be missed up to 50% of the time). Sarcoptic mange is usually treated with injections of Ivermectin. Sarcoptes is pretty easy to get rid of. Demodex can sometimes be difficult to treat because it is often secondary to a problem with your pet's immune system. If you are not happy with the way the treatment is going, consult with a dermatologist. If it is a stubborn case of Demodex, that can become a very serious problem.

Like Beau said, there are two different kinds of mange that have different effects and require different treatments.

Sounds like you didn't have the easiest puppyhood, and being given "every antibiotic on the market" since isn't doing your immune system any favors. A lot of puppies that have problems with demodectic mange mites tend to sort of "grow out it"of by the time they're about 8 months old and their immune systems have matured. Having been given so many immune system depressants you are probably at a disadvantage against the little bugs that are making you itch so much. Hopefully now that you are finished with the courses of antibiotics you will have the chance to get stronger and your body can be allowed to help keep these buggers in check on its own.

Given that you've been on so many antibiotics you should make sure you are doing something to replace all of the friendly flora that you need in your gut to keep bad bacteria in check, convert pro-vitamins into vitamins, and help you digest your food. Antibiotics generally don't discriminate and kill off the "good guys" as well as the "bad guys". A good strong probiotic supplement should do the job. Yogurt has the good organisms in it, but it's not really concentrated enough to help adequately recolonize your digestive tract. Probiotics will help your general health out, and good health and a strong immune system is the #1 thing you need to help you fight off the demodex mange.